Packer device for wells



1.961 K. A. WRIGHT ETAL 3,004,606

PACKER DEVICE FOR WELLS Filed Aug. 20, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS did/E5 Z 504 0/14 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ea. Z.

Oct. 17, 1961 K. A. WRIGHT ETAL PACKER DEVICE FOR WELLS Filed Aug. 20, 1957 United States Patent fornia Filed Aug. 20, 1957, Ser. No. 679,204 9 Claims. (Cl. 166-182) This invention relates to the art of producing fluid from wells and is particularly directed to improvements in apparatus of the general type commonly used to provide a seal between the lower end of a well casing and the upper end of a liner pipe extending below the easing into the well formation.

An annular expansible packer element is commonly mounted between telescoping metallic parts so that the packer element is expanded upon relative axial movement of the metallic parts. It is also a common practice to employ frangible means, such as for example, shear pins to prevent relative movement of the metallic telescoping parts until the packer has been lowered to the desired position within the well. Premature breaking of the shear pin sometimes occurs, however, when the packer assembly encounters an obstruction on being lowered into the hole with the result that the packer mechanism may be tripped and the packer set at the wrong location in the hole. It is the principal object of this invention to provide a well packer assembly which cannot be set prematurely upon being lowered into the hole. It is another object of this invention to provide latch means in addition to the shear pin for preventing relative movement of the telescoping metallic parts of the packer assembly until the packer assembly reaches the desired elevation in the well bore.

Another object is to provide such a device in which the latching assembly takes the form of a rotary member having threads connecting it to both of the telescoping metallic parts of the packer assembly together with means for rotating the member while a downward force is applied to the packer assembly. Other and more detailed objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view of. a well showing a perforated liner pipe resting on bottom and projecting upward into. the lower portion of the well casing.

FIGURE 2 is a similar diagrammatic View showing the perforated liner pipe suspended from the lower end of the casing by means of a conventional liner hanger.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional elevation showing a packer assembly embodying a preferred form of our invention, the parts being shown in the position during lowering of the device on a pipe string into the well casing.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 showing the position of the parts of the device after engagement with a tubular element at the upper end of the liner pipe and after the mandrel and threaded member have been rotated for a number of turns.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing the position of the parts when the annular packer has been expanded into engagement with the inner surface of the casing.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on lines 66 as shown in FIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawings, the well casing, generally designated 10, extends down into the hole and the perforated liner pipe 11 is positioned adjacent the producing formation and projects into the lower end of the casing. The liner pipe 11 may rest on bottom as shown on FIGURE 1 or may be supported in a conventional liner hanger 12 as shown in FIGURE 2. In either case, atubular element13 is mounted on theupper end of the ice 2 liner pipe 11. The liner pipe 11 as shown in FIGURE 1 may be maintained in central position by means of conventional centralizers, not shown.

In accordance with our invention, we provide a packer device generally designated 14, which is engageable with the tubular element 13 and which acts to form a seal between the casing 10 and the liner pipe 11. This well packer device 14 includes an annular resilient packer element 15 having its lower end fixed to and abutting a shoulder 16 provided on the shell 17. Internal wickers 18 are provided on the shell 17 adjacent its open lower end and are adapted to engage the outer surface of the tubular element 13, as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. A series of O-rings 19 may also be provided on the shell 17 for sealing contact with the cylindrical extension 20 on the element 13.

The shell 17 includes a tubular extension 21 which extends through the bore of the packer element 15 and which is provided with internal threads 22 near its upper end 23. These threads engage the external threads 24 provided on the rotary member 25. A sleeve 26 is slidably mounted on the outer surface of the shell extension 21 and a shoulder 27 at the lower end of this sleeve engages the upper end of the anular packer 15. The upper end of the sleeve 26 is provided with internal threads 28 which are engageable with external threads 29 provided on the rotary member 25 Frangible means are provided to connect the sleeve 26 to the shell 17 and as shown in the drawings, this means includes a plurality of shear pins 30 extending into aligned openings on the sleeve 26 and sleeve extension 21. The shell 26 is provided with a tapered bore 32 for reception of a plurality of wedge slips 33 which engage the outer surface of the sleeve extension 21. This outer surface may be serrated as shown at 34. Engagement of the wedge slips 33 with the serrated surface 34 serves to prevent upward movement of the sleeve 26 with respect to the shell 17.

The device 14 includes a mandrel 40 attached to the lower end of a string of drill pipe (not shown) by means of threads 41 and annular terminal fitting 42 is connect ed by threads 43 to the lower end of the mandrel 40 and a thrust collar 44 rests on this terminal fitting 42. The thrust collar 44 has an outer portion which engages an upwardly facing abutment 45 provided on the shell 17. A collar 46 on the mandrel 40 carries a hearing assembly 47 which rests against the thrust collar 44. A downwardly facing shoulder 48 on the mandrel 40 engages this collar 46. From this description it will be understood that when a downward force is applied to the mandrel 40 that this force passes through the shoulder 48, collar 46, hearing 47, thrust collar 44, abutment 45 and shell 17 although the lower portion of the mandrel 40 is cylindrical, the upper portion of the mandrel 40 is hexagonal as shown at 50, and a complementary hexagonal bore 51 is provided in the rotary member 25 so that the member 25 turns with the mandrel 40 but may slide axially thereon. The member has a cylindrical counterbore 52 which is engaged by a seal ring 53 carried on the mandrel. A shoulder 54 on the mandrel underlies a shoulder 55 on the rotary member 25.

Cooperating annular elements 56 and 57 are threaded together at 58 to form a cage for a series of expanding lugs 59. A spring 60 acts on each lug to move it outwardly about the rocking pivot 61. In the position shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, the lugs 59 are maintained in retracted position by the inner surface of the shell extension 21. When the lugs 59 are in the expanded position shown in FIGURE 5, a toe portion 62 on each lug 59 engages under a lip 57a on the member 57 to limit out- ;vard movement of the lug under the force of the spring In operation, the device 14 is lowered into the casing 1'0'on the lower end of'the drill string (not shown). The drill string is connected to the mandrel 40. During the operationwofi lWer-ingthe device 14 into the, hole, the

artslare in the position shown in FIGURE 3. It should.

device into position. Each time a new section of drill Pipe is added'at the surface to, lengthen the drill string,

the device is raised for a shortdistance in the hole, in.

aS COndanQe with conventional pipe handling practice. The two sets of" threads 28,, 29k and 212, 2 4. prevent relative axial'rnovem'ent of the parts, 21' and'26; in either direction, and hence there is no danger of premature setting of the packer at the wrong elevation in the casing. The device l iistlowered through and guided by the casing until the lower end of the shell 17 strikes the upper end f'the tubular element 13 associated with the liner 11 or the liner hanger 12. Weight is then rested on the mand'rel tocause the downward force to be applied through the shoulder 48, collar 46, hearing 47, thrust collar 44 and abutment 45. This downward force causes the lower end of the shell 17 to telescope over the tubular element 13; and to bring the internal wickers 18 into engagement with the outer surface of the tubular element 13. With the weight still applied to the mandrel 40, the drill pipe and mandrel are rotated to disconnect the threads 28, 29 and the threads 22, 24. The threads are preferably left hand so that the drill string may be rotated in the conventional right hand direction without danger of disconnecting threaded sections of the drill pipe. A predetermined number of revolutions, for example, 20, is sufiicient to insure that both sets of threads are disconnected. During turning movement of the mandrel 4t and member 25 the member 25 moves upward along the mandrel 40 from the position shown in FIGURE 3 to the position shown in FIGURE 4.

The drill pipe and mandrel are then raised upward for a, sufficient distance to bring the expanding lugs 59 upward beyond the upper end of the sleeve 26. The lugs 59 are expanded upward by means of the springs 60- into a position to engage the upper end 63 of the sleeve 26. Subsequent downward force applied through the mandrel 40 acts through the abutting shoulders 64 and 65, member 56, pivot 61 and lugs 59 to the upper end 63 of the sleeve 26 This downward force shears the pins 30 and permits the sleeve 26 to move downward relative to the shell 17 and shell extension 21, thereby axially contracting the annular packer and causing it to expand radially into contact with the inner surface of the casing 10. The wedge slips 33 engage the serrated surface 34 under action of the compression springs 33a to maintain the packer 15 in expanded position.

The mandrel 40'and its associated parts 42, 44, 47, 57, 59, 56 and 25 are then withdrawn upward through the casing.

Having fully described our invention, it is to be understood that we do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but our invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a well packer device, the combination of: a tubular shell having a shoulder, an annular expansible packer mounted on and encircling a portion of the shell and having upper and lower ends, said lower end engaging said shoulder, a sleeve slidably mounted upon the Accordingly, there isno danger of shell and having a shoulder engaging the upper end of i sleeve, means including a mandrel extending within and engaging said rotary member for turning the said rotary member to release its external threads from engagement with the internal threads on said sleeve and said shell, expansible lugs carried on the mandrel, and means for moving saidlugs to a position to overlie a portion of said sleeve upon. upward movement of the mandrel following disengagement of said threads, whereby a downward force may be transmitted from the mandrel through said lugs to said sleeve for expanding the packer.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1v in which the tubular shell is provided with an open lower end having internal wickers, whereby the shell may telescope over and engage an upwardly projecting tubular element'in a well;

3. In a well packer device, the combination of: a tubular shell having a shoulder, an, annular expansible packer mounted on and encircling a portionof the shell and having upper and lower ends, said lower end engaging' said' shoulder, a sleeve slidably mounted upon the shell and having a shoulder engaging the upper end of said packer, the sleeve extending above the upper endof the shell, internal threads on said shell at the upper end thereof, internal threads on said sleeve at the upper end thereof, a rotory member having a first series of external threads engaging said internal threads on the shell and having a second series of external threads engaging said internal threads on the sleeve, means including a mandrel extending within for engaging said rotary member for turning the said rotary member to release both series of threads from engagementwith the internal threads on said sleeve and saidshell, and means carried by the said mandrel forengaging the sleeve after upward movement of the mandrel following disengagement of the said threads, whereby the sleeve may be moved axially toward the shell for expanding the packer.

4-. In a well packer device, the combination of: a tubular shell having a shoulder, an annular expansible packer mounted on and encircling a portion of the shell and having two ends, one end of said packer engaging said shoulder, a sleeve slidably mounted upon the shell and having a shoulder engaging the other end of said packer, internal threads on said shell, internal threads on said sleeve, a rotary member having external threads engaging said internal threads on the shell and having external threads engaging said internal threads on the sleeve, and means including a mandrel extending within and engaging said rotary member for turning the said rotary member to release its external threadsfrom engagement withithe internal threads on said sleeve and said shell, and means carried by the said mandrel for engaging the sleeve after upward movement of the mandrel following disengagement of the said threads, whereby the sleeve may be moved axially toward the shell for expanding the packer;

5. In a well packer device, the combination of: a tubular shell having a shoulder and having threads thereon remote from said shoulder, an annular expansible packermounted on and encircling a portion of the shell and having two ends, one end of said packer engaging said shoulder, a sleeve slidably mounted upon the shell and having a shoulder engaging the other end of said packer, said sleeve having threads thereon, a rotary member having a first series of threads engaging said threads onthe shell and having a second series of threads engaging said threads on the sleeve, means including a mandrel extending 'within and engaging said rotary member for turning the said rotary member to release both series of threads from engagement with the threads on said sleeve and said shell, and means carried by the same mandrel for engaging thesleeve after upward movement of the mandrel following disengagement of the said threads whereby the sleeve may be moved axially toward the shell for expanding the packer.

V 6. In a well packer device, the combination of: a tubular shell having an open lower end adapted to telescope over and engage an upwardly projecting tubular element in the well, an annular expansible packer mounted on the shell and having an upper and lower end, means fixing the lower end of the packer to the shell, a sleeve slidably mounted on the shell, means fixing the sleeve to the upper end of the packer, a mandrel extending within the sleeve and having a shoulder, a threaded member slidably and non-rotatably mounted on the manrel above the mandrel shoulder, first thread means connecting said member to the shell, second thread means connecting said member to the sleeve, thrust means mounted on the mandrel and engaging the shell whereby the mandrel may turn while applying a downward force to the shell, such turning movement of the mandrel serving to disconnect the first and second thread means, expansible lugs carried on the mandrel, and means for moving said lugs to a position to overlie a portion of said sleeve upon upward movement of the mandrel following disengagement of said threads, whereby a downward force may be transmitted to the sleeve to move the sleeve downward relative to the shell to expand the packer.

7. In a well packer device adapted to be run into a well on a pipe string for establishing a seal between the lower end of a well casing and the upper end of a liner pipe, the combination of: a tubular shell having an open lower end adapted to telescope over and engage an upwardly projecting tubular element on a liner pipe, an annular expansible packer mounted upon the shell, means fixing the lower end of the packer to the shell, a sleeve slidably mounted upon the shell, means fixing the sleeve to the upper end of the packer, frangible means preventing relative axial motion between the sleeve and the shell, a mandrel extending within the sleeve and having a shoulder, a threaded member slidably and non-rotatably mounted relative to the mandrel above the mandrel shoulder, first thread means connecting said member to the shell, second thread means connecting said member to the sleeve, an abutment Within the shell, thrust means including a bearing assembly mounted on the mandrel engageable with the abutment whereby the mandrel may turn while applying a downward force to the shell, such turning movement of the mandrel serving to disconnect the first and second thread means to permit upward movement of the threaded member and mandrel relative to the sleeve and shell, lug means carried by the mandrel within the shell biased to expand outwardly upon upward movement of the mandrel to engage the upper end of the sleeve, whereby a downward force may be applied to the sleeve by the lug means to break the frangible means and move the sleeve downward relative to the shell to expand the packer, and means for engaging the said sleeve and said shell for preventing upward movement of the said sleeve relative to the said shell after the packer has been expanded.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein the means for preventing the said upward movement of the sleeve relative to the shell includes one or more circumferentially extending wedge means mounted between and engaging said sleeve and said shell.

9. In a well packer device adapted to be run into a well on a pipe string for establishing a seal between the lower end of a well casing and the upper end of a liner pipe, the combination of: a tubular shell having an open lower end adapted to telescope over and engage an upwardly projecting tubular element on a liner pipe, an annular expansible packer mounted upon the shell, means fixing the lower end of the packer to the shell, a sleeve slidably mounted upon the shell, means fixing the sleeve to the upper end of the packer, frangible means preventing relative axial motion between the sleeve and the shell, a mandrel extending within the sleeve and having a shoulder, a threaded member slidably and non-rotatably mounted relative to the mandrel above the mandrel shoulder, first thread means connecting said member to the shell, second thread means connecting said member to the sleeve, an abutment within the shell, thrust means including a bearing assembly mounted on the mandrel engageable with the abutment whereby the mandrel may turn while applying a downward force to the shell, such turning movement of the mandrel serving to disconnect the first and second thread means to permit upward movement of the threaded member and mandrel relative to the sleeve and shell, lug means carried by the mandrel within the shell biased to expand outwardly upon upward movement of the mandrel to engage the upper end of the sleeve, whereby a downward force may be applied to the sleeve by the lug means to break the frangible means and move the sleeve downward relative to the shell to expand the packer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,870,779 Layne et a1 Aug. 9, 1932 2,067,885 Brown Jan. 19, 1937 2,092,048 Brown Sept. 7, 1937 2,120,982 Layne June 21, 1938 2,137,997 Bendeler Nov. 29, 1938 2,312,862 Bermingham Mar. 2, 1943 r 2,877,850 Burns Mar. 17, 1959 

